Español 3 Sra. Carpinella.  Because each tense is used for very specific things, there are some key words that indicate whether you would use the imperfect.

Presentación del tema: "Español 3 Sra. Carpinella.  Because each tense is used for very specific things, there are some key words that indicate whether you would use the imperfect."— Transcripción de la presentación:

1 Español 3 Sra. Carpinella

2  Because each tense is used for very specific things, there are some key words that indicate whether you would use the imperfect or the preterite. When you see one of these words, you will usually use the tense that is associated with it. ImperfectPreterite Todos (every) Cada (every) Siempre (always) Generalmente (generally) Con frecuencia (frequently) Frecuentemente (frequently) A menudo (often) A veces (sometimes) De vez en cuando (from time to time Durante (during) Cuando (ser) joven (when ___ was young) Pasado (last) Ayer (yesterday) Una vez (once) Este, esta (this/that) Anoche (last night) Hoy (today)

3  The preterite is used to describe completed past actions.  It is used to state actions that began and ended at a specific time in the past.  It is often the equivalent of the English “ed”.

4  The imperfect is used describe habitual or repeated past actions.  It is used to describe things that happened over and over.  It is also used for past descriptions.

5  Él trabajó / trabajaba de voluntario al comedor de beneficencia el viernes pasado.trabajótrabajaba  Una vez tiró / tiraba basura.tirótiraba  Ella visitó / visitaba a los ancianos todos los viernes. visitóvisitaba  Siempre recicló / reclicaba las latas.reciclóreclicaba

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8 Remember, aside from using key words, there are several other instances when the imperfect is used over the preterite. They are: Appearance Physical Conditions Age Weather Time/Date Appearance Weather Attitudes/Desires Location Emotion

9  Sentences may often have more than one verb. If the sentence is in the past, the verbs must be in either the preterite or the imperfect.  Sometimes both verbs are in the same tense and other times, they are in different tenses.

10  If both verbs describe simple actions that began and ended in the past, both verbs are in the preterite.  El gastó el dinero y yo junté fundos.  Both verbs are in the preterite because they both describe simple actions (spent and fundraised) which began and ended in the past.

11  If both verbs describe habitual or continuous past actions, both verbs are in the imperfect.  Mientras yo recaudaba fundos, mis amigos solicitaban ayuda.  While I was raising funds, my friends were asking for help.  In this example, both verbs are in the imperfect because they both are continuous (was raising and were asking), the timing of the actions are unimportant.

12  If one verb describes the background action and the other describes an action which interrupts that background, the background action is in the imperfect and the interruption is in the preterite.  Los voluntarios delegaban el trabajo cuando Arturo eligió hacer llamadas telefónicas.  The volunteers were delegating the work when Arthur chose to make phone calls.  The first verb is in the imperfect because it describes what was happening (the volunteers were delegating) when the second verb interrupted (Arthur chose).

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